Top Chinese legislator meets Colombian president on ties

Zhang Dejiang (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in Bogota, capital of Colombia, Nov. 24, 2014. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

BOGOTA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Monday here on enhancing practical cooperation between the two countries.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, first conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's regards to Santos.

Zhang reviewed the sound and steady growth of China-Colombia relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1980, saying the two countries have always understood and supported each other.

He also hailed the achievements that Colombia has made in order to promote development and peace, and appreciated Colombia's adherence to the One-China Principle, and emphasized that China has attached great importance to developing friendly cooperation with Colombia.

The solid political ties have given a strong boost to the practical collaboration in trade, economy and people-to-people exchanges, Zhang said.

China is now Colombia's second largest trading partner. China-Colombia trade totalled 10.45 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, according to Chinese customs figures. From January to September this year, two-way trade stood at 12 billion dollars, a 54.4 percent increase from the same period last year.

China-Colombia relations will embrace the new opportunity for development as next year the two countries will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Zhang said.

China would like to work with Colombia to build political trust, enhance practical cooperation and bring more benefits to people of both countries, Zhang said.

Zhang called on the two countries to deepen trade and economic collaboration, boost trade and investment facilitation, promote common development, expand exchanges at all levels, enhance understanding between the two peoples and maintain a good mass base for bilateral relations.

Stressing Colombia is an important South American country, Zhang called on the two countries to make best use of the forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, which was established in July this year, and promote bilateral cooperation through the multilateral mechanism.

The first ministerial meeting of the forum is scheduled to take place in Beijing next year.

Santos said that despite the long geographical distance between China and Colombia, people from the two countries have always shared a friendship of mutual respect and sincerity.

Colombia cherishes the traditional friendship with China and would like to continue to cement that friendship, Santos said.

The president proposed that the two countries should provide each other with stronger political support, work more closely in trade, economy, investment and agriculture, and strengthen bilateral ties as well as the overall relationship between China and Latin America.

Zhang is the first top Chinese legislator to visit Colombia since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1980.

Columbia is the second leg of Zhang's ongoing nine-day Latin America tour, which also includes Peru and Mexico.